Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-11-15

"And would my life be cafe ,hsrsr"
mo. I don't believe !, would, Was
the eorporai's thoughtful reply.
"Then Get me free!"
"Hsyr
"Sst me frcsl
"H.ns me u I DON'T" said the cor.
porsl. "why. Of course ~iIl."
lie Gu, the prisoners bonds aud gave
an inquiring look.
"it IL ell right" responded the SEN
ori,a. "The stream IL no, deep at this
poin, I am going to ford Il. and on the
other side Of yonder hill my brother aud
bis companions avail, me. When you
return TO your comrades tell them the,
you did your duty. 0od bIe" you. 'enor.
and farewell"
Before be could speak the senorii.
va. half way across the river. A she
disappeared In the fore., on the other ,ids
she wa,el her hand. and the corporal
heartily responded.
"ush. D,n't ask me" wAs Corporal
Johns reply to the questions Of bis CON.
r.de,. 81 did my duty. That Is enough
There were other things demanding
their attention. and the fate u the Mex.
lean lad va. no, very ,sarehiDily inqiii.
ed in,o.
III an grss, fool To fab, dasl."
.aii john Conway |. be haish,d bis
toIls, and vle~.d bis face Ia slas'. "bai
when fello~. Is in Paris be must do .'
PAri.isns do"
Coawsy, gave an extra i~i', % hl.
mu.,.ehe. and continued talking 10 him
self:
IL, |. strange. I fought through our
w.r..nd ~, mixed up 10 the Msrimil.
ian business have done my share OF
.hoo,ins aud being ,ho, at. but | never
y,, stood up 10 cold blood to siehsnsr
shot, With q man. don, like It."
81 msny years h.d elapsed Hrcs con-
way. military experience tha, pro.Pee'
Of fsh, 10 longer stirred bis blood.
lie W. no, an old man. bat the h,ry
srdrr u youth vas ihiog OF the past.
Ahu y,s, Of adventurous 'p,euls,ion
in the mining regions of the Wes, for
tune favored him. and Tor the frs, time
In hi. life he VI. realizing one OF the
dream. of bis youth. . ,l.i, to P.ri.
Unfortunately. h. ksd been drawn Ia
TO political controversy In a cafe With
member Of the Mexican Legation. Ssnor
Gomsr. whose gre., wealth and beautiful
wife ~ers a. the time the talk Of Paris.
In the ke., Of the diseas.ion coowsy
had given the mortal offence TO the Mex.
ie.n. The result VAS . challenge. and
the American bad accepted, 'el'e'ins
pistol. and hSing tho hour for 5 o'eloek.
While the American ~.s ~ondering
whether be had satieisn, spPs,iis for
breakfast. there Vas tap At his door.
Opening /, be saw TO bis surprise senor
Gomez Who advanced into the room With
gave eoun,snanee In witch various
en- o,ion. ~sre struggling fOr the mastery.
John Coawsy involun,siily fell back
10 smsrsment At bsholding this unsnpsei.
ed visitor. "S-nor COn~sy." said 90.
m,r. ",hi. ,i.i, under the circumstances
/. unh..rd Of. IL !. irregular. but you
Americans are always prepared for the
unexpected. am here. senor. TO sPolo-
si,s for my eopduei, and TO withdraw
my challenge. ! deeply regret my o'.
fen.i,e language. and hasten TO rtfset
Il. I, !. my purpose to inform the aen.
,lemsn Who know something OF the affair
between us. that we have no qasrrel. and
that I rgsrd you IS one of the brsvss'
and noble., Of men,"
Conway looked into the MsSiesn's
eye.. add saw sincerity there.
"Ssnor Gomez" be said. I'll An st .
lo.s TO under,Abd ell this"
Listen e. exclaimed the other in.
patiently. "L.s, nigh, at the opera my
wife saw . face ,ha, recalled the greatest
peril Of her life. She studied !, through
hsr gls. and became convinced lhs, she
Gas right. When she me, me ., OUT
hotel. after my return from the cafe
where We had our unfortunate dihsreaee.
she told me ell. and begged me to search
ou, her pressfver. SO. Corporal John. !
thank you in the name Of my wife"
Then seeing the American vas more
my.,i6sd than ever. Conner continued
"Hsve you forgotten your capture OF
. Mexican in Sonora when you we're With
B.r.ine , Instead Of obeyin orders and
executing the prisoner her 'sx and her
wrong. excited your sympathy and you
released her,"
"It oil comes back to me- said Con.
way, exei,sdly. And the senori,a made
good her escape aud Is nov your wife
You are 10 be congratulated. senor. up
on securing such . heroine"
The two were now uneonseiously clasp.
ing hands.
"You zee that We cannot fight"
laughed Gomez, with . tear in his eye.
ridiculous !" ,sid Conway.
"vsry WE'LL" remarked the other ~
take IL for granted | may tell the 'enors
the, you will spend the evening With Us.
You cannot refuse"
Corporal John did no, refuse. bat
when the brillisn, Mexican beauty over
~helmed him that evening with her
thanks he grew very thoughtful. When
hi. visit was over and he Was on bis way
homewsrd the American several times
broke out With;
"Confound !, ell. when she was my
prisoner. Why the devil didn't keep her''
And yet Corporal John was NJ, Alto
gether unhappy.
..p,.... don't throv avsy that piece of